By bizn_fun 
Swiss economy minister Guy Parmelin and chief trade negotiator Helene Budliger Artieda, who travelled to Washington on Wednesday, are more hopeful than they have been in months, amid suggestions that 39% tariff may be reduced to 15% – the same as Switzerland’s neighbours in the EU.
In return, promises from the Swiss pharmaceutical giants to build more production plants in the US are already on the table. It is also reported that Swiss International Airlines, whose fleet is primarily Airbus, may pivot towards Boeing.
But will it be enough? Swiss industry is waiting with bated breath. A number of Swiss companies have warned they will have to furlough staff if nothing changes.
The Swiss do have one more highly influential figure they can call on.
Fifa president and Swiss citizen Gianni Infantino, long a friend of Trump’s, was reportedly urged by some Swiss parliamentarians to try to change the president’s mind.
As part of preparations for next year’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, Infantino visited the Oval Office in August bearing the trophy.
As the cameras rolled, he handed it to Trump saying he was “a winner”. The president responded asking “can I keep it? That’s a beautiful piece of gold”.
Infantino has also announced a brand new Fifa world peace prize, to be announced in Washington DC on 5 December.
All bets are off as to who that might be.